The Truth About the Murders That Inspired Every Onscreen Killer Couple

Starkweather peeled away in the Packard. He sped toward town, a number of cars in pursuit by then, and didn’t stop until a bullet shattered his window and the glass nicked his ear. After that, the wanted murderer stopped the car, got out, tucked in his shirt and, glaring at the all the guns pointed at him, got down on the ground with his hands behind his head.

An inevitably glamorized photo of Starkweather in handcuffs, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his white button-down stained with blood, both repulsed and captivated.

Sheriff Karnop’s wife, Gertrude, was tasked with escorting Fugate back to Nebraska, and she later recalled that the teen remarked, referring to the stolen outerwear she was wearing, “Isn’t this a nice coat?”

However, according to The 12th Victim, there was a note in the pocket of that coat reading, “Help, police, don’t ignore,” that never made it into evidence back in Lincoln.